Burning Desire

Category: Accessories

The process of making the purse began with an irregular, unwanted scrap of red leather, sourced from the ReadyMades Archive in Milan. I was drawn to the challenge of transforming something discarded into something desirable—an act of reclamation that guided the entire process. Readymade’s leather selection is sourced in partnership with Gruppo Mastrotto, a leading Italian tannery known for its commitment to responsible production. Mastrotto works exclusively with hides that are byproducts of the food industry, ensuring no animal is bred for its skin. This forms the basis of a circular system where waste is transformed into premium materials. Readymade curates from Mastrotto’s end-of-series leathers—materials that combine technical excellence with traceability and care. Certified to the highest environmental standards, including ISO 14001 and LWG Gold, Mastrotto operates with 100% renewable energy and advanced water management systems. There was no plan, no sketch—just the material and a strong impulse to create. I let intuition lead the way, responding to the leather’s natural folds and tactile qualities. At one point, a spontaneous crease reminded me of Lucio Fontana’s Cuts series, which I had encountered in Turin. Fontana is known for slashing his canvases to break through the surface, symbolically opening space and questioning the boundaries of painting. His minimalist incisions, exploring space and the infinite, deeply influenced my thinking. The 5mm lines that appear in this piece echo those gestures, referencing subtle but enduring signs of life: the fine lines on skin, or the concentric rings within a tree trunk. An important aspect of the project is that there are no cuts in the leather; the purse is made from just two pieces of material. This decision honors the integrity of the leather and allows the form to emerge naturally through folding and shaping rather than cutting. This project was finalized in just a few days, which speaks to the power of creative freedom. With no rigid structure or pre-defined outcome, the process remained open, spontaneous, and fluid—guided entirely by material response and instinct. For me, this project is about developing a relationship with the material. I let the leather speak—its flexibility, resistance, and form dictated the direction. The final purse is more than an accessory; it integrates with the body, becoming something intimate and alive. It holds within it the memory of its past and the marks of its making.